Try out for panto

Young boys who can sing and act have the chance to appear on stage in a professional sparkling pantomime this Christmas.

Auditions take place at the weekend to chose four boys to take part in Wycombe Swan’s festive production starring Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood.

The boys will be cast in the shared roles of Michael and John. The show’s producers are seeking boys no taller than 4’6” for Michael and no more than 4’8” for John, with singing and acting ability. Auditions will take place at the Old Town Hall in Wycombe from 10am on Saturday (October 3) with the show’s director and there is no alternative audition date available.

Boys should prepare a monolgue, poem or rhyme to present and be prepared to read a short excerpt from the script. To audition boys must pre-register by emailing an audition form to Katie Ell at education@wycombeswan.co.uk

Audition forms can be downloaded from wycombeswan.co.uk/online/panto-auditions.

Boys must be available for all rehearsals and performances from Monday November 30 through to Sunday January 3, and should live within a 20 mile driving distance of the Wycombe Swan.

The swashbuckling pantomime was launched with a flourish at Legoland in Windsor. Revel Horwood, who will play villainous Captain Hook, was joined at the theme park on a beautiful sunny day with his costars, Britain’s Got Talent finalist Paul Burling who plays Smee and ventriloquist Dawson Chance who plays Starkey. Also there enjoying the fun and Legoland rides was Joe Sleight who plays Peter Pan, Isobel Hathaway as Tinkerbell and Rachel Spry as the Mermaid.

Revel Horwood has won critical acclaim for his direction and choreography of numerous productions in the West End and across the country, and this year he has also toured the UK as Miss Hannigan in a new production of Annie.

His last stage appearance at the Swan was in 2012 when he starred in Snow White.

He said: “After my last visit to High Wycombe playing the Wicked Queen and terrifying poor Snow White, I am delighted to set my sights on Neverland in pursuit of Peter Pan.I had such a great time at Wycombe Swan three years ago and I am thrilled to be returning for another Christmas season.”

Peter Pan runs from Friday December 11 through to Sunday January 3 and starts before this year’s Strictly Come Dancing series comes to an end. For this reason there will be no Saturday performances of the panto. Revel Horwood will be at the Swan during the week, filming with the BBC on Saturdays and then back on stage on Sundays. He is going to be extremely busy!

Tickets are on sale now from 01494 512000 or online www.wycombeswan.co.uk